Car "GAZon Next": owner reviews, test drive, photo, fuel consumption and price

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The automobile enterprise on the Oka is one of the most significant projects of the former USSR. The plant specialized in the production of medium-duty trucks, the production history of which is closely connected with the history of the country as a whole. Each car is associated with a certain period. GAZ-AA is a kind of symbol of industrialization, GAZ-51 was mainly used during the post-war devastation, GAZ-53 is associated with grandiose construction projects in Siberia. What will GAZon Next become? Feedback from the owners after serious testing of the truck will allow you to answer this question.

A bit of history

It should be reminded of such cars as 3307 and 3309. They have seen a lot in their lifetime, including the collapse of the USSR. But the question immediately arises: "Does the domestic market of Russia need such acar?" Until the 90s, no one doubted the relevance of medium-duty trucks. The reason for this was the lack of roads as such. Under these conditions, the car was used for a variety of purposes, acting as a "universal soldier." This is due to the absence of other categories of vehicles, located between cars and trucks.

At that time, the production of special modifications of GAS was launched, in particular buses, utility vehicles, vehicles for transporting specific goods (mail, bread), dump trucks and so on. Their operation was not very efficient and required a large amount of fuel, but there was just a lot of it, and it was very cheap. In general, it was easier for the state to mass-produce one type of car without developing and manufacturing other models.

A new stage in development

The market economy has indicated the right direction in development. Entrepreneurs are more careful with their money and do not want to spend too much. Therefore, the expediency of large cars, consuming a huge amount of fuel, gradually disappeared. In addition, such machines have never been highly reliable. The enterprise began to produce lorries on time, which to a greater extent meet the needs of small businesses. Models 3307 and 3309 were produced in small numbers mainly for military or other purposes.

The long-awaited release

20 years have passed, and the time has come for the plant to decide on its future plans. The old model technically and morallyoutdated, and in all respects lost to its main competitors: Hyundai HD 78, Mitsubishi Canter. In addition, the car no longer met the ever-tightening safety and environmental requirements. The popularity of opponents, including in the secondary market, made it clear that the demand in the segment of 1.5-2 tons has been extinguished. The client now does not need carrying capacity, he needs loading volumes.

GAZ decided to rectify the situation by launching the GAZon Next car. Feedback from owners and specialists made it clear that using outdated platforms or creating hybrid versions of existing machines will not work - they will not be able to compete with their main opponents.

Technical part

The first cars were released in September last year. In 2015, after the modernization of production, GAZ intends to sell about 30,000 GAZon Next units. A test drive of a car ready for sale was allowed to be carried out by journalists even before its large-scale production. This is an ordinary flatbed truck with a 4x2 wheel formula and a platform with a relatively large loading height - 1300 mm. In the near future, the manufacturer will introduce an urban version with a loading height of 1170 mm. The company assures that the novelty has practically inherited nothing from its predecessors. The improved frame from the 3307 model and the transmission are the main things GAZon Next received from its older relatives. Reviews from owners and experts explain the manufacturer's decision to use the base from the old box by the fact that imported elements will be used in it. Solution with frame to manynot entirely clear.

Engine

In all other respects, the motor is completely new. YaMZ-5344 acts as the main power unit. It is worth noting that the 530th series of YaMZ engines was once awarded the "Best Innovative Technology" award. Version 5344 was the continuation of these reliable motors. The new engine is a 4-cylinder turbodiesel with a displacement of 4.4 liters and a maximum power of 109.5 kW. It is the result of the joint work of Yaroslavl and Austrian engineers from AVL (in the same way, in the 1980s, engines for the VAZ-2108 model were finalized by Porshe employees). The manufacturer used the Common Rail system, but at the same time promised that the fuel equipment would be unpretentious in terms of the quality of fuel for the GAZon Next car. Fuel consumption with this engine averages 19 cubic meters of gas per 100 km.

The engine includes a large number of components from well-known companies in its most important links (valves, filters, piston rings, and so on). They should significantly increase the reliability and durability of the engine (the warranty period is 3 years or 150,000 km). But their use also entails an increase in the cost of the GAZon Next car, the price of which will play a significant role, especially in the current fall of the ruble. And then the question arises as to whether they will ever release a completely domestic car?

Domestic foreign car

In other equally important units, parts of well-known foreign manufacturers were also used. From Bosh "Lawn Next" receivedpower steering, ZF clutch, electronic engine management systems, ABS, ASR. Wabco disc brakes, Tenneco shock absorbers are installed on the front and rear axles, and even the radiator is a common Russian-Japanese development. At the same time, the level of localization declared by the manufacturer is 90%. The figures are justified purely formally, if we take the total mass of our frame, axle and body.

New cab

The cabin deserves special attention. The company developed a unified line of them. For the first time, one of them was “dressed” on a new generation GAZelle, and now on GAZon Next. Owner reviews, photos and expert opinions make it possible to verify the ergonomics, a relatively high level of comfort inside the cabin. The basic equipment of the novelty includes heated side mirrors and seats, power windows. The use of galvanized sheet protects the cabin from corrosion, and some elements are completely plastic.

High quality painting is another advantage of the GAZon Next car. Feedback from the owners of previous GAZ products spoke of significant problems in this regard. The manufacturer decided to rectify the situation, so the body of the novelty is painted along with the popular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the assembly of which is also organized at the GAZ plant.

GAZon Next: photo, design

In the design of the car, despite the completely new cabin and body, features of many predecessors are noticeable. For example, the layout solutions incorporated in the frame of the "gazika", the former - the bonnet layoutremained unchanged. This decision leads to a decrease in the useful length of the body, despite the developers' talk about increasing the level of passive safety. It is important to note that the main opponents have an uncapped layout.

Legislative norms do not allow simply increasing the overhang back, and every additional meter in urban conditions will be superfluous. And this despite the fact that marketers primarily counted on the urban version of the car. The longest wheelbase version of the truck is 8 meters. Another drawback is the use of 19.5-inch wheels (20-inch are installed as standard), when 17.5-inch would be a good option for the GAZon Next car. The price of the latter is cheaper by a third.

The design of the front bumper led to controversy. And even taking into account the fact that it was nevertheless made of iron, and not of plastic, the dimensions of the footwell are insufficient. For example, if the driver is shod in boots of size 45, he will not be able to stand on it with a full foot while working under the hood - he won’t be able to lean on his heels, and you won’t be able to hold on toes for a long time. The manufacturer indicates safety standards, but in any case, inconvenience will arise.

First tests

The manufacturer for some reason decided to show the ride quality of the model on a closed track. In addition, a large number of journalists who conducted test drives did not have category "C" licenses, so they were provided with an impression. No complaints about the ease of boarding and disembarking, visibility for the driver and the ergonomics of seats with a lot ofthere are no adjustments - here the designers deserve a solid "five".

There is one more seat in the standard cabin. There is also a variant with a maximum number of seats - up to seven. An aluminum body is also available as an option. The cab of the GAZon Next car is quite spacious, but there are clearly not enough niches on the back wall for small things. A warning hangs in the cabin, which states that it is necessary to adjust the seat for a certain weight of the driver before driving. Otherwise, it may break. The dashboard went to the car from the new generation of GAZelle, and the shape of the gearshift lever has not changed at all. Large side mirrors provide such good visibility that drivers replacing each other do not even adjust them for their height.

Driving the GAZon Next car

Reviews indicate a fairly strong vibration in the car. Even taking into account the 4-cylinder diesel engine, its level is unreasonably high. This is a consequence of saving on the motor suspension. If you do not touch the controls, it is quite comfortable to sit, since the chair dampens irritants from the outside with high quality. But even with this, strong vibration causes the knock of gears in the transmission. With an increase in speed, the situation improves slightly.

The box deserves due attention. If the work of the first and reverse gears leaves much to be desired, then from the second to the fifth the situation is radically opposite. In general, imported spare parts fully justify their money, which directly affects the well-coordinatedtransmission operation. The new GAZon Next, even in a semi-loaded state, can fully start from second gear. Car carrying capacity reaches 8 tons.

Behind the wheel there is a feeling of driving a car: an informative steering wheel, clear and error-free gear shifting, reliable brakes, “soft” pedals (the distance between the gas and brake pedals should be increased, it will be inconvenient to press them).

Race Truck

Although the race track is designed for sports cars, the new truck was also tested on it. It is almost impossible to take him into a skid. The correct weight distribution made the model flexible: the tires tenaciously crash into the road, and the stabilization system (available as standard) works flawlessly. Despite the truck's 8-ton weight, the disc brakes work smoothly and reliably.

Good visibility and practically "passenger" controls allow you to easily maneuver the "snake", park in reverse, slow down or accelerate in a narrow passage. Even with the fact that the restrictive cones were very tight, the greater number of journalists in the race almost did not yield to the factory drivers. The press service of the company said that representatives of driving schools showed interest in the truck. It is easier to pass the exam on a new car. They plan to replace the old 3307.

Advantages and disadvantages

The initial cost of 1,000,000 rubles has grown to 1,300,000 rubles, therefore, the GAZon carNext moved into a different price category. For example, the popular Mitsubishi Fuso, which surpasses the novelty in all respects, costs in the range of 1,500,000-1,700,000 rubles. The use of imported parts leads to an increase in the cost of the truck, but representatives of the GAZ company assured that its owners will be able to significantly save on its repair.

According to calculations, the cost of operating the novelty will be lower by 12-17%. Details of foreign manufacturers, although not elite, are quite reliable. Therefore, the manufacturer increased the service interval by 20,000 km. Another significant plus is the warranty service for three years (150,000 km).